Description of the first cultured representative of "Candidatus Synoicihabitans" genus, isolated from deep-sea sediment of South China Sea

In this study we describe the first cultured representative of Candidatus Synoicihabitans genus, a novel strain designated as LMO-M01T, isolated from deep-sea sediment of South China Sea. This bacterium is a facultative aerobe, Gram-negative, non-motile, and has a globular-shaped morphology, with light greenish, small, and circular colonies. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain LMO-M01T showed less than 93% similarity to its closest cultured members. Furthermore, employing advanced phylogenomic methods such as comparative genome analysis, average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acids identity (AAI), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), placed this novel species within the candidatus genus Synoicihabitans of the family Opitutaceae, Phylum Verrucomicrobiota. The genomic analysis of strain LMO-M01T revealed 175 genes, encoding putative carbohydrate-active enzymes. This suggests its metabolic potential to degrade and utilize complex polysaccharides, indicating a significant role in carbon cycling and nutrient turnover in deep-sea sediment. In addition, the strain's physiological capacity to utilize diverse biopolymers such as lignin, xylan, starch, and agar as sole carbon source opens up possibilities for sustainable energy production and environmental remediation. Moreover, the genome sequence of this newly isolated strain has been identified across diverse ecosystems, including marine sediment, fresh water, coral, soil, plants, and activated sludge hi...
Source: Systematic and Applied Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research